Why is Tiger?s Eye Called the Gemstone for Friends?

It is not uncommon to see gemstones used for accessories in jewelry such as necklaces, rings and bracelets or other decorative items. Marilyn Monroe’s famous saying, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” has been adopted far and wide to personify one of the most expensive gemstones. Unfortunately these ‘best friends’ are so popular that they have resulted in wars and endless poverty.

As magnificent as the diamond is, I can only think of one gemstone that is truly worthy of being called the ‘gemstone for friends’ or “The Friendship Stone” – and that is the Tiger’s Eye. The Tiger’s Eye is a semiprecious gemstone which historically was worn for protection. It was said to be a stone which kept a constant “eye” on the holder. Skipping a few centuries later however, the Tiger’s Eye was discovered in large quantities in Western South African soil in the 1880’s. It displays an effect of a thin band of light, called Chatoyancy, that changes position as the stone is turned back and forth.

The Tiger’s Eye gemstone is made up of crystal deposits of quartz and a fibrous blue mineral called